[A]lmost any family that has a closet filled with board games owns a Monopoly game. If they’re like me, they may even have Monopoly Junior game for players under 8 years old. So, why is a game that’s been on store shelves since 1933 still so popular today? Well, it’s fun to play, of course. But there are also a lot of life lessons to learn from Monopoly. Here are just five lessons from Monopoly that can teach your kids right from the beginning.
Lessons Learned from Monopoly #1. Know the Rules
We all want our children to learn how to work, play and live independently. Yet, we also know that they are more likely to thrive when they understand and know how to follow the rules and work with others. In fact, the better they know the rules, the more likely they are to make those rules work in their favor.
Lessons Learned from Monopoly #2. Get a Game Plan
If players want to buy a lot of properties and pass “GO” to collect $200, they will need have a good game plan. For example, if a player buys every property they land on, they can easily end up cash poor or out of the game. As in life, a carefully considered game plan can be the key to the castle—or in this case, a little red hotel.
Lessons Learned from Monopoly #3. Make the Most of What You’ve Got
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It’s a game of skill but it is also a game of chance. So, if you’re losing at the moment, keep your eyes open, use what you have on hand, and never give up since a roll of the dice can change everything and put you right on top. Be ready for it!
Lessons Learned from Monopoly #4. Manage Money Wisely
From dice to cash, Monopoly is a game of numbers, decisions, strategy, luck and money. Whether it’s money from a birthday gift or money earned from mowing the lawn, you need to know when to spend it and when to save it.
Lessons Learned from Monopoly #5. Be a Good Sport
Almost every Monopoly player eventually learns that if they don’t play nicely with others, nobody will want to play Monopoly with them again. This is true for winners and losers. Therefore, it’s almost always wise to avoid behaviors such as gloating when you win and pouting when you lose. There is always another game in the future for players that are positive, gracious, and kind to others—no matter the outcome.
What did you learn from Monopoly? What were your favorite board games?
Featured image courtesy of Parker Brothers & Amazon. Click here to buy the game.
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